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Friday, October 28, 2011

Getting to know the Bargain Blonde, Part 1

Hello class. Today we are covering my favorite subject: me.

I keed, I keed.  But I am in the "hot seat" as they call it on The View and as promised, I'm answering all of your burning questions.  

For easier reading, I've broken them up into the following categories: beauty, money, diet & fitness, blogging, personal and last but not least, random.  I want to answer ALL of your questions, which would have made this post entirely too long, so I'm breaking this up into 2 posts.   Today I'm covering beauty and money, so here we go ...


Katie H asked, "Since I'm a fellow white girl (aka 2 minutes of sunlight and I am burnt), do you use tanner on your face or just on your bod?"

Both! As Katie mentioned, I am white and have been pale my entire life.  And not just white, but ghastly white. I'm a naturally very fair-skinned person with naturally blonde hair.  Most real blondes cannot tan, which would be the case with me.  I use self-tanner all over and even more so on my face since it gets washed more frequently than the rest of me.

I have a Mystic Tanning membership, so I am able to get unlimited spray tans monthly.  I also have an arsenal of self-tanning products, but the truth is I'm normally too lazy to put them on.  Typically, I head to the salon, get sprayed and I'm done with it.  Since my face fades quicker, I use the Mystic or Versa sunless spray and spray my face in between trips to the salon. 
These are a little pricey, but contain the same solution as what you get at the salons, so they are worth it IMHO.  My salon runs specials so I only buy them when I can get them discounted. I usually end up paying around $15 for each can.
My other sunless tanning products I like for my face are: Hawaiian Tropic Island Radiance, Banana Boat Summer Color and Lancome Flash Bronzer.

When all else fails, slather that bronzer on.  I could go on for days about sunless tanning, but I'll save that for its own post. I've got a lot more questions to get through.

Sarmin asks, "Would you ever go brunette?"

Hell to the no.  I wish I could, but I look dis-gust with brown hair. And I know this because I had a brown wig for my 26th Jersey Shore birthday party.   As my mother said when she saw the pic, "Ew, tell me that's not real."  I'll never have brown hair, I can promise you that.  It was fun getting my JWoww on for a night, but I must say blondes really do have more fun! Muahahaha


Jess (Pretty Physicist) asked, "What is one thing you won't skimp on cost-wise and one thing you will always skimp on?"

The one area I will not skimp on is my hair cut. Until I found my fab-o hair guy 5 years ago, I cried almost every single time I got my hair cut.  Hair cuts were traumatizing for me and I'm not exaggerating.  There was a time in college I burst into tears in the chair, went home and locked myself in my room for hours and wouldn't answer my phone.   Sounds dramatic, but my hair is very important to me as I'm sure it is to you, which is why I don't skimp when it comes to who is cutting it regardless of price.

I won't tell you exactly how much my cut (no color) cost me, but I'll tell you with tip it's more than double digits.  Since finding my guy, I trust him completely and have never left the salon unhappy.  He's seriously worth every penny to me, so this is my one splurge.  Every girl needs one.

Ironically, the one thing I'll always skimp on is shampoo and conditioner, which ties into the next question so I'll explain more below. 

Jess (The Kentucky Priss) asked, "Name something expensive you've splurged on that ultimately wish you had not."

This was a good one!  I don't make big purchases with out some serious thought and major research, so I was having a hard time thinking of one.  Then it dawned on me. One time I got conned into buying this bottle of Keratase shampoo for $40 because the lady at the salon SWORE to me it would work wonders on my oily hair.  One thing to say to her: "You LIIIAAAR!"
You see, I have to wash my hair every day or else it'll look like an oil slick and my head gets itchy.  Yummy.  I was skeptical because I swear by drug store shampoo and conditioners, but against my better judgment, I got it.  The Keratase made absolutely no difference and every time I spot that stupid bottle in my shower, I get angry. 

My $5 Dove Intensive Repair and TRESemme Color Protection work perfectly, and the one thing I get complimented most on is my hair.  No weave here girls, but you judge for yourself what you think of my "cheap" shampoo and conditioner results:

Your thoughts?


This concludes Part 1 of getting to know me and yes, I started off a little tame.  The juicier questions are Monday, so stay tuned and have a fantastic Halloweenie weekend.  I can't wait to see every one's costumes next week!  TGIF times 10 and boo!
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41 comments:

  1. i want the juicy questions NOOOOOOW! well, i probably know way juicier stuff than people ever thought of asking.

    pone?! dogman?! powder?! sweaty friend of russian mafia?! midget friend of russian mafia?!

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  2. you is hot. and kerastase is crap. and mystic is my fave.

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  3. You are a beautiuful girl=))
    Im a new follower, check out my blog in return..Xoxo

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  4. Woohoo I was the first one to be answered :) This was fun to read!

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  5. I love your beauty tips :) I hate spending a lot on things unless it is absolutely necessary so I was pretty happy to hear you don't shell out tons of cash for shampoo/conditioner. I've had long, healthy hair all of my life (minus the two times I've cut it to my shoulders) and I've always used the 5 dolla stuff.

    PS yep, your hair is looking good in allll of those pictures :) Oh, and the Photoshopped pics are amazing.

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  6. I tried Versaspa for the first time the other day and I loved it! I didn't know they sold selftanner also.

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  7. Oh I forgot to mention how incredible that first picture is of you! ha!

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  8. OMG! I COULD NOT AGREE MORE ABOUT THE HAIR SITUATION. I AM EXACTLY THE SAME. I'VE HAD SO MANY PEOPLE MESS UP THE COLOR AND CUT OVER THE YEARS BY TRYING TO SAVE MONEY. MY HAIRCUTS AND HIGHLIGHTS ARE NOT CHEAP. BUT MY HAIR IS A BIG DEAL TO ME SO IT'S TOTALLY WORTH IT.
    I DO USE SOME SALON BRAND PRODUCTS BUT ONLY WHEN I GET THEM ON SALE AND WITH A COUPON AT ULTA. OR MY MOM USED TO BE A HAIRDRESSER AND KEEPS UP HER BEAUTY LICENSE. SO WE GO TO THE SUPPLY STORE AND STOCK UP ON GOOD STUFF FOR HER COST.

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  9. Your hurr is enviable. I wish I could do $5 shampoos/conditioners, but they irritate my skin like whoa.

    I also splurge on a good haircut...I went to an el cheapo salon when I first moved to Richmond to get 10 inches cut off my hair (MISTAKE) and left crying. The lady didn't even charge me for a normal hair cut, 'cause even SHE knew it was wretched. And even GUYS noticed it was uneven. Ugh...

    Anyway I'm doing a post on 2nd Day Hair in the next couple of weeks. My hair is also fine/oily...so be sure to czech it out when I do post it :)

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  10. Can not wait to read Mondays post!! What are you being for halloween?! :)

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  11. So very jealous that your hair has remained golden blonde naturally! Mine turned a awful muddy color at 16 and I've been dying it ever since.

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  12. omg lately i have been having the worst oily nasty hair. idk what it is but it is driving me crazy.

    my sister who is my hair stylist recommended a shampoo and even let me use her dicount to get it but it made my hair even oiler. then last weekend i was at my lakehouse and used the shampoo there (sauve) and it totally worked like magic. no oil! went and bought me a 5 dolla bottle and it's been working wonders since.
    expensive shampoo isnt always best.

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  13. you are so HOT AS A TEACHER!!!!

    so you do the mystic tan booth? You don't have someone spray your naked body?

    oh and exSCUUUUUUUUSE eh-mwah?? Blondes have more fun? Shoot girl, you never hung out with this Raven haired beauty. heehee.

    ok OK OK. the hair cutting thing??? I had a friend who had super long hair, like yours, and she called me one day after getting a haircut BAWLING her eyes out and saying her hair was SO SHORT and they took SO MUCH OFF and she was SO DEVASTED etc etc etc etc. I saw her and you could barely tell! It was still SUPER SUPER LONG!!! I was like, girl? DRAMA QUEEN! Really? REALLY?!?! You are crying over your HAIR when it looks EXACTLY THE SAME?

    I went to Hawaii once and took in a photo of Meg Ryan, I wanted her shaggy cut and it ended up being one inch long all the way around my head. THAT CALLS FOR CRYING, NOT TAKING HALF AN INCH OF SUPER LONG HAIR THAT STILL LOOK EXACTLY THE SAME!!!!!!!!!!!

    I so look at you differently now.

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  14. I'm totally with you that splurging for a good stylist is SO worth it. I just don't get mine cut as often to help justify the expense :)

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  15. For real - I love your photoshop skills. :)

    I use drugstore shampoo too. That expensive stuff dries out my hair. Dumb. And I get compliments on my hair all the time too. Especially when I haven't washed it. Weird...

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  16. Now the 8 million dollar question is... Will you share the name of your hair guy?

    ALSO! I use Dove & TresSemme as well & can find both on a regular basis at SAMS & save a little more money... just thought the original barganista might enjoy that little bit of knowledge.

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  17. i want the juicy questions too. but i do love these. one question: what the heck does IMHO stand for?! i've seen it everywhere and have no clue.

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  18. Ughhhh, you're such a TEASE. Now I have to wait until Monday for the dirt I want.

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  19. hey girl meant to tell you i was reading one of your posts last week and went on a ELF rampage after work! Got the whole shabang! Brushes, eye liner, bronzer, eye brow stuff but they didn't have the hd powder! argh! anyhoo had to tell ya! I love it all so far!

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  20. love the post! i use dove and tressemme (same ones you do) and swear by them!

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  21. not only do we have the same name and middle name and favorite tv show (big brother, duhhh) we apparently have the same hair. if i don't wash my hair for 1 day my hair gets oily and scalp itches, too. sometimes even less than 24 hours later its getting all oily. Everyone thinks it's insane... i say its just me. I have the weirdest scalp cause my hair gets oily easily BUT my scalp is dry? been to the dermatologist and they cant figure it out so whatevs they said its not life threatening {i beg to differ}. anyways, I am always on again off again on the splurge on shamp and condish. Right now I am on. I have found the mothership it's called Wen and it's a conditioning shampoo so it's thick creamy like conditioner but also cleans like shampoo. I was a skeptic at first bc not only do I have that nasty oily hair It's on those late night infomercials as well as QVC which is wear I buy it by the gallon. Yes, I said gallon. It's a bit pricey but so worth it. I would highly suggest anyone using it. sorry for typing a novel just sharing :)

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  22. You hit the nail on the head here, lady! I've worked at multiple salons and you are wasting your money if you feel the need to buy expensive hair products there- I still to drugstores for that. But the haircut, YES, is ALWAYS worth the splurge. Always. My stylist is the only one I trust with a shears. Fabulous post- can't wait to read more! :)

    -Paula @ Life's Little Lessons

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  23. I totally get what you mean about hair cuts being a traumatic experience !! I still dread going every time but luckily haven´t had any recent disasters...That reminds me I´m due for a cut pronto ! ;)

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  24. super cute post! thanks for sharing!

    and yes you do make one hot teacher!

    ps love Ravens comment! haha. :) have an awesome halloween weekend girl!!

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  25. I have hair rather similar to yours. what products do you use in it when you wear it wavy?

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  26. Loved this! I *always* enjoy learning about my fave bloggers.

    Do you have any tips for beginning (and continuing) the sunless tanning process? I've never had one, but plan on doing it before we go on vacation.

    I love drugstore hair products, too! I prefer a clarifying sort of shampoo (like Herbal Essence's Drama Clean) and my fave conditioner is Suave Professionals Rosemary Mint. A perfect combo!

    Can't wait for the Part II!

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  27. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for NOT tanning in a bed!!! So many people think that tanning beds are not that bad but they are soooo wrong. I love to see people who use spray or self tanners!! =))

    I think your $5 shampoo & conditoner does wonders!

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  28. I couldn't agree more about buying cheap vs. expensive shampoo. I too was convinced that Kerastase would work wonders on my hair and after speding over $100 on three products I was SO disappointed...I use Tresemme now and it works great!

    Loved this post and can't wait for the second part on Monday!

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  29. i love the little insights we just got about you!!

    i hate spending money on shampoo and conditioner too. IF i do, i use pureology. that is the only one i have found that is worth the dolla bills.

    but i agree with your momma...blonde looks great on you!!

    whit

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  30. I had to stare at the first pic for 5 minutes trying to figure out if that was you... Has anyone told you that you look like Tara Reid?? In a pretty, American Pie kinda way, of course...

    Couldn't agree more with the blonde comment. I went brunette for a while back in college and wanted to cry every single day... Needless to say-blondes really do have more fun!!

    PS-can we get to the juicy questions already??!!

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  31. This is a great idea! Love your answers!
    ps, I've passed on an award to you :)

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  32. sucha cute post! cannot wait to read more!

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  33. you are hilarious - a good hair stylist is an essential!!

    and i am the exact opposite with blonde hair. I was jessica simpson for halloween one year and had this crazy long blonde wig and this guy that i was seeing-ish at the time was like "wow. are you gonna keep that on all night." haha it was disgust!

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  34. Yeah, I could NEVER go dark. NEVER in a million years. Been there, don't that and hated it. Ombre on the other hand... I might try.

    Seriously you'd be a hot teacher. Just saying.

    loveyougirly xoxo

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  35. U se to use that Summer Color sunless tanner, (middle one) and loved loved loved it..but then i starting breaking out so bad with it...so I switched to my vegan Arbonne stuff and for real it doesnt turn my hands orange! loves it!

    Your hair is amazing and I think you should definitely insure that mane!

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  36. I spend shameful amounts on my highlights - like almost what I paid in rent in college - but will let ANYBODY cut my hair. This makes my colorist crazy, but I don't care about cut when it's long and straight, just color. I'm WEIRD.

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  37. LOVE you as the Bad Teacher! HAHA

    I don't look good with dark hair either! Although my hair is dark now! LOL Like darkkkkk blonde haha way different than my platinum though!

    LOVE your hair too! I think it's okay to splurge on hair! I definitely spend a lot on my hair but love it and think it's worth it so it's okay :)

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  38. Okay, if I had blonde hair, & it looked like yours, yeah I wouldn't go dark either...

    Hair like sex Blondie!

    xo SARMIN

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  39. Just started following your blog! I have read for quite some time and absolutely adore your posts, girly!!
    Question: you mentioned using normal drugstore shampoo... do you color your hair at all? Are you able to find ones that are color safe, if you do? I desperately need to give up my super expensive shampoos, but I am worried about my color fading...

    Thanks so much!!!

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